The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory Over Tough Fijian Side

Quilter Nations Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

The English squad scored 4 tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this match, England had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will probably play another key factor.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)